Dekalb County AlArchives Biographies.....Wallace, John January 21, 1809 - June 18, 1892 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/al/alfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Jimmy Wallace jim7131953@msn.com September 7, 2009, 2:04 pm Source: Jimmy Wallace Author: Jimmy Wallace Life of John Wallace in DeKalb County, Alabama John Wallace was born in Union County, South Carolina on January 21, 1809. He stated this on a deposition in December 24, 1874. Some say his father was William Wallace. John married Nancy Templeton probably before 1834 in South Carolina. This supposition is due to the 1850 Census listing John having a son named William Henry Wallace being 15 years old and born in Alabama. William Henry must have died between the 1850 Census and the 1860 Census because he does not appear on any Census after 1850. So, John and Nancy had to move to Alabama before William Henry was born June 18, 1934. John and Nancy Wallace had thirteen children, all born in Alabama. October 23, 1835 John Templeton Wallace was born to John & Nancy Wallace. According to several people running genealogy John T. was born in DeKalb County, Alabama. John T. was a scout and guide for the Union Army during the Civil War. John stated this in a deposition given on December 24, 1874. John T. married Elizabeth Minerva “Betty” Driskill (daughter of Warner Lewis Driskill) and had ten children. John T. lived in Mississippi for a while, and moved to Yell County, Arkansas where he died on November 3, 1895 at the age of 59. John T is buried in the Moore’s Chapel Cemetery in Waveland, Yell County, Arkansas. September 9, 1838 Elizabeth Jane Wallace was born to John & Nancy Wallace. Elizabeth never married and is buried in the Gilbreath Cemetery in Cotnam (Collinsville), DeKalb County, Alabama. Elizabeth died on her 35th birthday on September 9, 1874. November 30, 1839 Mary Matilda Wallace was born to John & Nancy Wallace. Mary Matilda must have died before 1850 for she does not appear on the 1850 Census or any other Census. She is probably buried in the Gilbreath Cemetery. There are several graves with only rocks marking the grave. In or around 1841, John staked his claim on 160 acres of land at the foot of Sand Mountain near Collinsville, DeKalb County, Alabama. In a deposition he deposed on December 24, 1874, John said he had lived on his claim for thirty three years. According to Homestead rules you must live on your claim for at least fourteen months before you could buy the land. May 3, 1842 Martha Emaline Wallace was born to John & Nancy Wallace. Martha married James Stanton Gilbreath. James fought in the Confederate States Army. Martha died February 6, 1885 at the age of 42. Martha and James are also buried in the Gilbreath Cemetery. June 9, 1843 Rachel Amanda Wallace was born to John & Nancy Wallace. Rachael married Moses Freeman son of Elisha Freeman. According to his grave marker, Moses fought in the Confederate States Army, but John said in his deposition on December 24, 1874 that Moses was a Union man. Moses bought 80 acres from The United States, date unknown. Moses died before February 20, 1884 and is buried in the Crossville First United Methodist Cemetery in Crossville, DeKalb County, Alabama. Moses grave marker has 1885 inscribed on it. But a deed made on February 20, 1884 transferring the land Moses bought to Rachael, stated that Rachael was a widow of Moses Freeman, so he had to die before that date. Rachael appeared on the June 27, 1900 Census with her son William E. Freeman. This Census has Lathamville, DeKalb County, Alabama on the heading. Rachael must have died after that Census for she does not appear on any other record. Where Rachael is buried is unknown. June 11, 1845 James Knox Polk Wallace was born to John & Nancy Wallace. James married Emily Braswell and had eight children. James was a Gilbreath Scout in the Vidette Calvary on the Union side during the Civil War. James was mentioned in John’s deposition of December 24, 1874. James died on October 23, 1923 and is buried in the Mount Pleasant Cemetery at Lathamville Baptist Church near Crossville, DeKalb County, Alabama. April 10, 1847 John bought 40 acres from The United States on what is now DeKalb County Road 221 near Collinsville, Alabama. November 17, 1847 Nancy Abigail Wallace was born to John & Nancy Wallace. Nancy never married and died December 2, 1874 and is buried in the Gilbreath Cemetery beside Elizabeth Jane Wallace. June 12, 1849 Mary Frances Wallace was born to John & Nancy Wallace. Mary Frances appears on the 1850 Census, but does not appear on any other record. She must have died before the 1860 Census. She is probably buried in the Gilbreath Cemetery. There are several graves with only rocks marking the grave. August 10, 1849 John bought 40 acres from The United States on what is now DeKalb County Road 221 near Collinsville, Alabama. September 2, 1850 John bought 40 acres from The United States on what is now DeKalb County Road 221 near Collinsville, Alabama. July 22, 1851 Leander Andrew Perry Wallace was born to John & Nancy Wallace. Mary Frances. Leander married Martha Carr and had nine children. Leander also disposed a deposition on December 24, 1874. Leander died on April 30, 1940. Leander and Martha are buried in the Mount Pleasant Cemetery at Lathamville Baptist Church near Crossville, DeKalb County, Alabama. December 1, 1851 John bought 40 acres from The United States on what is now DeKalb County Road 221 near Collinsville, Alabama. November 7, 1853 Onias Small Wallace was born to John & Nancy Wallace. Onias must have died before the 1860 Census. He never appears on any record. He is probably buried in the Gilbreath Cemetery. There are several graves with only rocks marking the grave. October 3, 1854 John bought 40 acres from The United States on what is now DeKalb County Road 221 near Collinsville, Alabama. These 40 acres did not join any of the other land John had previously bought. John must have sold this before his December 24, 1874 Deposition because John stated in the deposition that he had 160 acres. October 25, 1855 Charles Irvin Wallace was born to John & Nancy Wallace. Charles married Mary Griffin and had eleven children. Charles moved to Etowah County, Alabama between 1900 and 1910. Charles and Mary are buried in the Clayton Cemetery in Alabama City near Gadsden, Etowah County, Alabama. March 19, 1858 Sarah Ann Wallace was born to John & Nancy Wallace. Sarah is listed on the 1860, 1870, and 1880 Census. Sarah married J.C. Harp July 2, 1883 (listed in the DeKalb County, Alabama Marriage Index 1836-1916). Sarah and J.C. are not listed on any later records. They must have died between 1883 and 1900. Where Sarah and J.C. are buried is unknown. August 19, 1871 John filed a petition to the Commissioners of Claims in Washington, D.C. This claim was for one mule worth $150.00, one saddle and bridle worth $20.00, one three year old horse worth $120.00, and 60 pounds of bacon worth $12.00. December 24, 1874 John, Nancy, and Leander Wallace, James H. Templeton, and David Matthews deposed a deposition in support of that claim. In John’s deposition, he states he was born in Union County, South Carolina. John stated that he was a Union man and a Republican. John stated that he had lived on his claim at the foot of Sand Mountain for thirty three years. John stated that his two sons James P. and John T. Wallace were scouts for the Union side during the Civil War. John stated that John T. lives in Mississippi. John stated that he fed, hid, and supported Union men and soldiers during the four years of the Civil War. May 4, 1882 John was appointed Postmaster of Cotnam. He only served for one month; Marcus N. Gilbreath was appointed Postmaster of Cotnam June 5, 1882. John’s wife Nancy died August 1884 and is buried in the Gilbreath Cemetery. John married Lucy Swindell June 30, 1885, listed in the DeKalb County, Alabama Marriage Index 1836-1916. Lucy is not listed on any records after her marriage to John June 30, 1885. The 1860 Census states that Lucy Thomason ran a boarding house in Madison County, Alabama. William Swindell was listed on the 1860 Census as living at this boarding house. The 1860 Census list William as a carpenter. In 1860 Lucy was 33 and William was 20. William and Lucy were married between 1860 and 1870. They are listed on the 1870 and 1880 Census living in Woodville, Jackson County, Alabama. William Swindell married John’s granddaughter Nancy Freeman (Moses and Rachael Wallace Freeman’s daughter) on August 16, 1885 (listed in the DeKalb County, Alabama Marriage Index 1836-1916). William was 45 and Nancy was 22. They married two months after John married William’s ex-wife Lucy. William bought 120 acres from The United States that joined John’s land June 27, 1895. This land was actually located between Rachael Freeman (Nancy’s mother) and John’s land. Swindell Falls was named after William Swindell. The branch that creates Swindell Falls was named after John; Wallace Branch. It is highly possible John, Lucy, William, and Nancy all lived in the same house. Most of the land William bought is very steep, actually straight up. William and two children, Prince and Cora are buried in the Gilbreath Cemetery. William died February 7, 1908 at the age of 68. Nancy outlived William 42 years. Nancy Freeman Swindell is buried in Mt. Pleasant Cemetery in Rodentown, DeKalb County, Alabama. Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church is where Walter T. Wallace, Nancy’s first cousin was pastor for fifteen years; which is probably why she is buried there. Nancy died June 17, 1950 at the age of 86. John died on June 18, 1892 at the age of 83. John is buried beside his first wife Nancy in the Gilbreath Cemetery near Collinsville, Alabama. It is believed that Lucy inherited 130 acres of John’s land. Sarah inherited or bought 30 acres from John. When Lucy died and where she is buried is unknown. Photo: http://www.usgwarchives.net/al/dekalb/photos/bios/wallace83nbs.jpg File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/al/dekalb/bios/wallace83nbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/alfiles/ File size: 10.4 Kb